Bentley replaces Constitutional Reform Commission member

Gov. Robert Bentley has replaced an appointee on the Constitutional Reform Commission who had advocated defeat of the Sept. 18 constitutional amendment, which Bentley supported.

By Dana BeyerleMontgomery Bureau Chief

MONTGOMERY | Gov. Robert Bentley has replaced an appointee on the Constitutional Reform Commission who had advocated defeat of the Sept. 18 constitutional amendment, which Bentley supported.Bentley replaced commission member Becky Gerritson of Wetumpka at Monday’s commission meeting with Montgomery attorney Al Agricola.Gerritson is president of the Wetumpka Tea Party. She said Tuesday that Bentley told her he needed an attorney on the commission, which Bentley created to suggest revisions to Alabama’s constitution.She said her opposition to the Sept. 18 amendment had nothing to do with her replacement and that she and Bentley have a “great relationship.”“On Friday, I was called by the governor and he said he wanted to replace me with Al and needed his legal expertise,” Gerritson said. “He told me he was appreciative of me and thanked me.”As an attorney, Agricola won a legislative double-dipping case in the late 1990s, a congressional redistricting lawsuit in the early 1990s that led to GOP election inroads and a Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy pension case.He said all he was told is that Bentley wanted to appoint him to the commission. He attended Monday’s commission meeting.“The governor appreciates Becky Gerritson’s service to the Alabama Constitutional Revision Commission,” Bentley spokeswoman Jennifer Ardis said. “Moving forward, he wanted someone with legal expertise to serve on the commission. Al Agricola has that expertise and will serve the governor well on the commission.Gerritson opposed the Sept. 18 amendment to take $437 million Alabama Trust Fund over three years to prop up the ailing General Fund. Voters approved the amendment.In a Birmingham News story shortly before the amendment vote, Bentley and some lawmakers vowed to repay the money to the trust fund even though the constitutional amendment due to an oversight didn’t require it.“We are committed to paying the fund back,” Bentley said.“They certainly won’t,” Gerritson said at a Capitol rally, according to the News.With Agricola, the commission has seven attorneys serving — former Gov. Albert Brewer, who is chairman, state Rep. Paul DeMarco, R-Homewood, commissioner Greg Butrus and Matt Lembke. Ex-officio members who are attorneys are Sens. Ben Brooks, R-Mobile, and Bryan Taylor, R-Prattville.